Talented teenager Colagiovanni cracked Canandaigua’s elusive winner’s circle, collecting $5,000 in his last two trips west.

“Doug (Emery) has been getting this car pretty good,” stated Colagiovanni, 18, after his tour-high fifth victory of the season extended his points lead in search of a first career ESS season championship. “There’s really a lot of great support all around, and that means everything to me.”

Fairgrounds favorite Chuck Hebing selected the pole from the group of 12 top heat race qualifiers to pace the 23-car starting grid. A nine-time LOLR sprint winner, including the Patriot Sprint Tour opener back in May, the “Cobra” was poised to reach double figures despite overcoming a leaking fuel cell discovered during preliminaries.

As expected, the Ontario ace took off at the drop of the first green flag yet front row partner Colagiovanni never let the leader of his sight. The Marcellus driver shadowed Hebing as the pair reached traffic a third of the way through the 25-lapper, looking for an opening wherever the experienced leader decided not to go. Exhibiting a sudden burst of speed down the back chute on lap 12, Colagiovanni split high-running Hebing and Sammy Reakes IV, putting his no. 10 Ground Control Landscaping-All Star Performance-Donath Motor Worx/Eagle ahead for good in the non-stop affair that ultimately took just eight minutes to complete.

“Chuck took off in the beginning, I tried the high side a couple times but didn’t really like it so I stuck to the middle (groove) the rest of the way,” noted Colagiovanni, a division rookie in 2015 before scoring his first ESS win two years later at age 16. “Me and Doug talked about the high line probably going away and it worked out in my favor tonight. Just have to thank everybody that helps get me to the race track, I’m so appreciative of them.”

Hebing crossed the stripe a straightaway behind followed by Frenchman Steve Poirier, Matt Tanner and Billy VanInwegen

Lucas Oil ESS/Mach 1 Chassis A-Main Land of Legends – Paulie Colagiovanni ($2,060), Chuck Hebing ($1,060), Steve Poirier ($835), Matt Tanner ($630), Billy VanInwegen ($555), Josh Pieniazek ($470), Jason Barney ($430), Shawn Donath ($520), Steve Glover ($410), Jonathan Preston ($600), Erik Karlsen ($460), Jeff Cook ($370), Darryl Ruggles ($400), Brett Wright ($325) Kelly Hebing ($300), Kyle Moffit ($300), Sam Reakes IV ($325), Josh Flint ($325), Davie Franek ($350), Pete Richardson ($300), Steve Doell ($300), Roger Levesque ($300), Tyler Cartier ($300)

E3 Spark Plugs Fast Time – Cook, Reakes, Franek $25

Car Mate Trailers Heats – Cook, VanInwegen, Poirier $25

Around Town Plumbing and Heating Halfway – Colagiovanni $50

Pinnacle Pole Award – Hebing $50

Fondations 55 Hard Charger – Donath (7 pos), $50

Ground Control Last Car Lead Lap – Preston $25

Ground Control 11th Place Finisher – Karlsen $25

Pitre Painting/Cobra Coaches Dash – Ruggles ($100), Karlsen ($75), Donath ($50), Flint ($25), Franek ($25), Wright ($25)

Ashley Lynn Winery Podium – Colagiovanni, Hebing, Poirier $10

Hoosier Tire – Preston $200 

For more Information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints:
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The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints are brought to you by: Lucas Oil, Mach 1 Chassis, NAPA Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Donath Motorworx, E3 Spark Plugs, Ground Control Lawn and Snow, Car Mate Trailers, Fondations 4 Saisons, Ohsweken Speedway/Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, Cobra Coaches, Fondations 55, E&V Energy, SUNY Canton, Pinnacle Employee Services, AroundTown Plumbing & Heating, Engler Machine and Tool, Kevin Nouse Design/K1 Racegear, Winters Performance, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Lacaillade Masonry, FX Caprara Ford/Chevy, ASI Racewear and many, many associate sponsors!!